Dumfries and Galloway’s towns and villages have been awash in red, white and blue in the run up to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee this weekend.
At 11.30am today the ringers at St John’s Episcopalian Church, Lovers Walk, Dumfries, will join in chime with hundreds of bell ringers from across the Commonwealth.
They will ring the eight bells of St John’s – the only set in the whole of southern Scotland.
Tony McIlwrick of the Dumfries ringers said they are delighted with their Jubilee role, which will sound around the town.
He said: “The bells were installed in the winter of 2013/14 with the heaviest five bells coming from the redundant church at the Quarriers Village orphanage at Bridge of Weir, while the three smallest bells were newly-cast at the Whitechapel bell foundry in east London. The tenor, the heaviest bell, weighs nearly 11 cwt (554 kg).”
Homes, gardens, community hubs and businesses are all currently sporting bunting and pictures of the Queen in an amazing show of gratitude for her dedication and service to the UK and Commonwealth.
Schools – which closed yesterday and today – have been holding their own celebrations to mark our 96-year-old Queen becoming the first British monarch to achieve 70 years on the throne.
Calside Primary School celebrated with creative costumes and cakes.
Springfield and Kirkpatrick Fleming Primary School Partnership had an open day and afternoon tea for the community on Wednesday. Their community council also gifted them a Jubilee bag for children in the area who received a hat, flag, chocolate and commemorative drinks cup.
Many community groups have already held open days and tea parties in celebration including Kate’s Kitchen in Annan on Tuesday and Annan Day Centre yesterday. Maxwelltown West Brownies in Dumfries enjoyed their Jubilee tea party on Tuesday night.
More than 100 people filled Dalswinton Village Hall last night for a special celebration organised by the hall committee.
Yesterday afternoon saw town criers make proclamations for the Jubilee and the region joined the chain of UK and Commonwealth beacon lighting last night including Annan at Watchhall field; Wardlaw Hill, Caerlaverock; Criffel; Carsthorne; Johnstonebridge; Gretna at Stormont Hall; High Germany Hill at Dunscore; Penpont in the field near the church; and at Langholm’s Malcolm Monument, Whita Hill.
Penpont are also having a Jubilee tattie boggle competition which the community has got behind with hilarious results, and Annan Riding of the Marches committee are having a Jubilee-themed Bake off.
Moat Brae in Dumfries had a Royal afternoon family tea yesterday and Scotland’s Centre for Children’s Literature has two Jubilee-themed Little Royal Story Pirates events at 10am and 1pm today. It paves the way for the Queen of Hearts Jubilee Party in the Neverland Garden tomorrow from 2pm to 4pm which will feature a treasure trail, magic with Franc and storytelling. On Sunday there will be a concert, Tapestry, by the Galloway Consort at 3pm.
This weekend will see many more celebrations in streets, parks, gardens, homes, pubs, hotels and village halls.
Among those in Dumfriesshire today, from 2pm to 4pm, is Locharbriggs Community Centre Association’s free Jubilee afternoon tea for their local community.
The Usual Place in Dumfries is having Jubilee celebrations for the public with sittings at 11.30am and at 2.30pm.
Tomorrow, Dumfries town market and Rosefield Mills Gallery are having a Jubilee street party in the town centre and invite people to take along their own food for the occasion at 12.30pm.
It is part of a wider event, running from 10am to 4pm, when there will be market stalls, children’s rides, entertainment, music and dancers throughout the day along with games and prizes, art and crafts.
Also tomorrow, from 1pm, The Iceland food store on the High Street is having a Jubilee fun day. They’ll have a digger, supplied by Jewson tool hire, outside the shop for kids to have a go on for a donation for Iceland’s charity week, and some Disney characters will be making an appearance. There will also be face painting and kids can get a sweet cone.
Celebrations for the Caerlaverock, Glencaple, Kelton and Bankend area include a community picnic in the Barbour Hall from noon to 3pm tomorrow and there will be traditional children’s games. It will followed by a bring your own bottle social gathering after 3pm. In addition, Nith Inshore Lifeboat Station will be open to the public from 10am to noon, and there will be more games for children.
Springfield and Gretna Green Community Council have organised a community walk leaving the war memorial at 2pm. At 2.30pm, there will be a tree planted at the Springfield Playing Field to commemorate the Jubilee and a village elder, Jimmy Boyd, will unveil a plaque. Refreshments will then be held in Stormont Hall with a special cake made by Tracy Jackson.
Also tomorrow there will be a Jubilee fun day in Eaglesfield Village hall, a street party in Ecclefechan and a Jubilee Party in the Park in Canonbie with fancy dress, live music, sumo wrestling among fun activities.
A ceilidh with 50s style dress is being held at Moffat Town Hall to mark the Jubilee from 7.30pm to midnight with music from Willie McRoberts and John Caskie.
The celebrations on Sunday include a picnic in the park at Dunscore from noon to 4pm with children’s games and competitions for all.
Heathhall Community Centre is having a Jubilee big lunch (bring your own picnic) for all ages from noon to 5pm. There is a programme of entertainment, from music and dancing to exercise and self-defence tasters. There will be games, a bouncy slide and face painting.
From 11am to 1pm villagers in Waterbeck are holding their Platinum Jubilee tea party for the community in village hall.
There will be a Brydekirk Picnic in the Park for the Jubilee from noon to 2pm and a jubilee tea party (by invitation only) in Cummertrees Village Hall.
There will be a Caerlaverock Kirk Jubilee Service at 9.45am, and then 10 horse-draw carriages will drive the Caerlaverock Loop. The British Carriage Driving celebration leaves Bowhouse Farm at 12.45pm with a 15-minute stop at Caerlaverock Castle.
Thornhill will celebrate with a free picnic in the park from noon to 4pm, organised by the community council, and residents are asked to take along food and join in the activities.
St John’s Church is having an evening service for the Queen’s Jubilee at 6pm and admission is free.
We’ll have pictures from as many as possible in next week’s editions. Feel free to send in your Platinum Jubilee photographs to us at: sharon.liptrott@reachplc.com.
